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Conservatives Win Majority in Canada

NDP now official opposition as Liberals, BQ stumble

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted May 3, 2011 3:03 AM CDT

(Newser) – After 7 years and four elections, Stephen Harper has led the Conservative Party to a majority government in Canada, according to preliminary results. The prime minister, who has led minority governments since 2006, won a majority of seats in Parliament and a broader mandate for his party after an election that radically reshaped Canada's political landscape, the Globe and Mail reports.

The New Democratic Party, a movement with socialist roots, became Canada's official opposition after knocking the Liberal Party into third place for the first time since Canada became a nation in 1867. The NDP's rise all but obliterated the Bloc Quebecois party in Quebec, leaving the separatists with just four seats. Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff both lost their seats, while the Green Party picked up its first-ever seat in Parliament with a victory in British Columbia.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper gives the thumbs up after giving his victory speech in Calgary, Alberta, yesterday.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper gives the thumbs up after giving his victory speech in Calgary, Alberta, yesterday.   (AP Photo THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper waves to the crowd following his speech on election night in Calgary, Alberta, yesterday.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper waves to the crowd following his speech on election night in Calgary, Alberta, yesterday.   (AP Photo/THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 19 comments
gomer99
May 3, 2011 11:00 PM CDT
Temps pour les élites du Québec à rentrer à la maison. Au revoir
cementhead
May 3, 2011 8:50 AM CDT
It is so funny to read other Canadians posting here. There is NO Conservative party in Canada. I defy you to name one single thing that Harper has done consistent with conservative values. Don't get me wrong, he's the best we've got. It's just that the other choices are so pathetic, only naive children could support them. Jack Layton's NDP platform is based on nothing......zip zilch !!!! Not one single promise can be supported with facts or empirical testing. Those criminal commies manage to get votes spouting outright nonsense like "we're bringing people together" and "we're raising awareness" and endless tripe that has no meaning whatsoever. To his credit though, it was revealed last week that Jacked Layton knows the best places in Toronto to get a hand job. Now he's planning to jerk the entire country. He said he thought he was visiting a "community clinic". I'm not making this stuff up. Check the link. It's all theft up here. It's only a matter of degree. When election time comes around, Canadians get to decide whether they want to have ALL of their money stolen or just MOST of it. http://www.canada.com/news/decision-canada/responds+Layton+massage+visit+allegations/4701230/story.html
odowd80
May 3, 2011 8:37 AM CDT
The most interesting part of this story is that one of the formerly dominant political parties, the Liberal Party, has been marginalized by the New Democratic Party. See America? It can be done. 3rd parties can succeed, however, it looks like Progressives will have to deal with some pain in the near term for dividing the vote.

 
Canada • Stephen Harper • New Democratic Party • Canadian Liberal Party • Jack Layton • Bloc Québécois • Michael Ignatieff

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